Gesualdo Francesconi, Ugo Pied and Fred Landi founded the Tosca Café at 242 Columbus Avenue back in 1919. A few weeks after they opened the bar, prohibition went into effect. Gesualdo’s mother was quickly drafted into service as the cook and the Tosca Cafe was transformed into a restaurant.
While Tosca’s kitchen served its last meal in the 1950’s, it remains in place and operational (as does San Francisco’s first espresso machine atop the bar). And if the bar’s new owner receives the blessing of San Francisco’s Planning Commission this week, the bar will once again become a bona-fide restaurant with late night food service until 2 AM.
this is huge…late night food from an amazing nyc based chef/owner. let’s turn that north beach scene around bring some class!
I’d rather have “classic” than “class”. The Tosca was one of the best casual bars in the city. This sounds like a version of the Burritt Room / Comstock Saloon / Beretta trendy concept that’s everywhere. The Tosca was unique. I hope it will still be.
I’m not sure I’d call the craft cocktail a trendy concept and I think anyone that has enjoyed a cocktail in one of these establishments would understand the difference between these drinks and a captain and coke. The same goes with craft coffee in the city. Is it a trend, sure. A concept, maybe. It’s more a sign of extreme gentrification and luxury that is starting to become a defining characteristic of the city. I’m not sure its reversible. I’m excited to see more of these high end establishments and look forward to the day when this becomes more the norm rather than the exception. Tosca Cafe returning to the scene is nice and a bit nostalgic. A bit like Palmers that just opened up on Filmore. I wish all these businesses the best. I also wish some of these other establishments would take the same pride in their services.
Thanks for a bit of non sequitur here. Good to break things up. Cheers!
Love that Tosca will survive, and love even more than food service will be available into the early morning – something that’s basically non-existent in San Francisco, so those are big pluses.
My big worry is it’ll turn into a Hipster Hangout and basically get ruined. The city has enough for the Mission crowd to do – leave something for those of us that were here before there was Twitter or Facebook.